BREATHE IN

Director Drake Doremus has created a very smart relationship drama, with impressive performances all around and throws a hefty dash of metaphors on top of the narrative. It is a mature, confident and impressive piece of work.

The great performances by Guy Pearce as a former musician and dissatisfied family man longing to leave his job and Amy Ryan as his wife, beautiful camera work (that makes the very most of its upstate New York setting) and immersive score make this an enjoyable feast. 

Young Felicity Jones, who plays Sophie, an 18-year-old British foreign exchange student, who gets in the way of the perfect couple, certainly holds her own in strong thespian company.

‘Breathe In’ abides by the standard narrative tropes of the “married-older-man-who-falls-in-love-with-a-much-younger-woman” genre; it treats love and relationships quite honestly. The story of mid-life crisis and relationship strain is wonderful scripted and played out, slowly introducing you to the characters and unfolding plot lines in an assured manner.